Electrode holder



Nov. 20, 19945.

F. R. SMITH l ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed March l0, 1944 www ITORNEY' Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT oFFlC-E ELECTRODE HOLDER Frank R. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 10, 1944, Serial No. 525,874

'i My invention relates toy an electrode holder,

and4 kan important object of the invention is to provide a streamlined electrode holder that does not have any projecting levers, handles or other projecting elements that will interfere with the holder being pulled` through an opening by. the cord..

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder that can be quickly assembled or quickly dismantled for replacement and repair.

still further object of the invention is to provide a holder of the character described that will provide an attractive appearance and will provide housing means that will not turn in the operatorfs hand but will afford an eflicient gripping shape.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily operated, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceabilty.

The. invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an electrode holder embodying the foregoing objects.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 272 of Fig. 3.

Fig.` 3 is a longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 2, and taken along the line'3-3 of Fig'. 2.

Fig. l is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation,l of the forward portion of the tool in a different position than shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 5-.5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an element comprised in the device, t

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a housing provided with upstanding iianges 8. The rearend of the housing has a hollow, tapered portion 8 into which leads a cable I0. The Wires in the cable III are connected in a bore I2 in the rear face of a head member I3 atl the end of a base member I4, which is disposed longitudinally of the device inside the housing 1. Screws I5 bolt the base I4 in position in the housing. A set screw I5 firmly holds the wires of the cable I0 in position in the bore I2.

The head I3 is provided with a hook or tenon member II for engaging a recess I8 at the rear end of a handle I9. The forward end of the 11 claims.

handle I9 has another recess 20 for receiving an end 2I. of a lever. 22. The lever 22 has a slot 23 for receivingv a stationary pivot pin 24 mounted upon ears 25 on the base I4.

The lever 22 also carries a. p intle 26 supported between brackets 21 onv the lever 22. AA'flat spring 28 has one end 29 hooked around the pintle 26, while the other v'end' of the spring 28l bears against the base I4.

A portion 30 oi the base I4 projects forwardly beyond the housing 'I and carries a gripping jaw 3l. n screw 32 fastens the jaw 3| upon the base. portiony 3 0. The jaw 3| has a circular, center pocket 33 and grooves 34 radially of the pocket. The lever 22 has a circular boss 35 that is received by the pocket 33 when the lever 22 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 4.v The electrode engaging face of the boss 35 is downwardly inclined toward the left in Fig. 4, so that this face may be` substantially parallel ywith the bottom of the pocket 33 when the jaws are open.

An insulating hood 38 receives the projecting portion 38 of the base I4. A screw 31 fastens the hood 36 on said portion 38. A cap 38 en-V closes the top and sides of, and is substantially coextensive with the outer faces of the lever 22'. A screw 38 fastens the cap 38 in place. A small pin 42 on the lever side of the jaw member 3| fits into a corresponding recess in the base 38, to prevent the iaw 3| from turning on the base.

`In the operation of my device, the cable I8 is, of course, connected in a suitable electric circuit. By depressing the handle I9, the lever 22 is swung clockwise in'Fig. 3, around the pin 24 as an axis, and against the action of the spring 28. This movement opens the jaw lever 22 for the reception of a welding rod 40. The rod 4U may be placed in any of the' radial grooves 34 of the lower, relatively stationary jaw 3|. 'I'hen upon release of the handle I9, the spring 28A causes the lever 22 to move the boss 35 to a clamping position with respect to the rod 40, as shown in Fig. 3. Of course, the rod 40 may be released by depressing the handle I9.

In assembling the device, the housing 1 is slid rearward upon the cable IQ, and the wires in the cable are fastened in place in the recess I2 by the set screw I6. The lever 2,2 is slid longitudinally so that its hook member 23 engages thepin 24. This construction avoids the necessity of inserting the pin V24 after the lever is assembled on the base, and provides means whereby the lever and base may be quickly disassembled for repairmr replacement. wrlhe handle I3 is then slidV laterally to a position to which its end grooves I8 and 28 are respectively engaged by the hook II and the inner end `2I of the lever 22'.` Then the housing is slidforward along the base' ll'until substantiels in the positionshow'n in the'drav'ving. In this position, the flanges 8 prevent lateral displacement of the handle I9. Thereupon the fastening screws I5 secure the housing in place.

It is to be noted that the housing l, the handle E9, the hood 36 and the cap 38 are of insulating material, e. g., heat-resistant plastic, wood, or the like. Moreover, it will be readily seen that the present device is streamlined and avoids the use of projecting handles or levers. One advantage of my construction is that it mayv be pulled through a hole in parts being welded, by merely pulling on the cable Il). The streamlined nature of the present holder will permit to slide easily through holes in the structure. The flat sides of the flanges 8 provide an effective grip for the operator.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an electrode holder, a base member and a pivoted lever member, the members having hook and pin pivotal connecting means, the hook carrying member` being slidable lengthwise to effect engagement or disengagement of the hook with the pin, the members having welding rod gripping jaws, and means to insure engagement of said pivotal connecting means between said members.

2. In an electrode holder, pivoted base and lever members, the members having hook and pin connecting means, the hook carrying member being slidable lengthwiseto effect engagement or disengagement of the hook with or from the pin, the membershaving welding rod gripping jaws, and a lever control handle engaging the base and hook-carrying member and disposed to insure connection of 'one member to the other.

3. In an electrode holder, an insulating housing, a conductive base in the housing, a jaw on the base, a lever having a pivoted connection with the base and providing a jaw cooperating with the jaw on the base, spring means tending to move the jaws to a closed position, and an operating handle movably engaging both a relatively xed portion of the base and a portion of the lever to maintain the pivotal connection between said lever and said base, said handle spanning the space therebetween. Y

fi, In an electrode holder, an insulating housing having an opening in the top thereof, a conductive base in the housing, a jaw on the base, a pivoted lever on the base providing a jaw cooperating with the jaw on the base, spring means tending to move the jaws to a closed position, an operating handle having a lateral sliding connection with the base and with the lever, the handle spanning the space between such connections and disposed substantially Within the opening in said housing, the walls of the opening in the housing securing the handle against 'lateral displacement.

5. In an electrode holder, an insulating housing, a conductive base in the' housing, a jaw on the base, a pivoted lever on the base providing a jaw cooperating with the jaw on the base, spring means tending to move the jaws to a closed position, and an operating handle having a tenon and recess connection with the base and having a tenon and recess connection with the lever, the handle spanning the space between such connections and being thereby movably supported.

6. In an electrode holder, an insulating housing, a conductive base in the housing, a jaw on the base, a pivoted lever on the base providing a jaw cooperating with the jaw on the base, the lever and base having hook and pin connecting means relatively slidable to effect a connection thereof, and an operating handle having slaatenon and recess connectionV with the base and having a tenon and recess connection with the lever, the handle being arranged to prevent disconnecting sliding movements of the hook and pin.

7. In an electrode holder, a hand piece, pivoted base and lever members in said hand piece providing jaws for gripping a welding rod, the lever member having a rearwardly projecting portion, a handle connected with the base member and with the rearward portion of the lever member and spanning the space between such connections, said handle depressible within said hand piece to operate said lever member to open position, and a iiat spring tending tomove the members to a rod gripping position, the flat spring permitting a compact, streamlined construction.

8. In an electrode holder, a hand piece, pivoted ba'se and lever members providing jaws for gripping a welding rod, the lever member removably fulcrumed on said base member and having a rearwardly projecting portion, a handle pivotally connected with the base member at its rearward end and movably connected with the rearward portion of the lever member and spanning the 'space between such connections, said handle depressible within said hand piece to move said jaws to open position, and a flat spring bearing against said members to move the members to a rod gripping position. f s s 9. In an electrode holder, a pair of jaws, one of said jaws being fulcrumed on the other at a point intermediate its length, a spring to hold said jaws normally closed, a housing containing said jaws and spring, and means` to exert a longitudinal pressure on one of said jaws to maintain its. fulcrum connection with the other jaw.

l0. An electrode holder including a pair of jaw dening members, one of said members fulcruming on the other member, a spring to exert a downward pressureY on said fulcruming member normally tol hold said members closed and a means to exert a longitudinal pressure on'said fulcruming member to maintain its fulcrum connection with said other member, said means depressure to within the housing to move 'said mem-vv bers to open position. j j s lFRANK RhSMlZTI-Ij.` 

